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Johnny’s Back in Town

I had never thought to ask you
How you happened to get such a name,
But along the coast there are places
Where you’ve earned yourself quite a fame.

Growing up, my brother was always John, and I think, because of this song (Surabaya Johnny from a three-song cycle set by Kurt Weill, the other two songs of which are Song of sexual slavery and Le grand Lustucru), it’s been a hard road for me to come to conceptualize him as a Johnny. After all, the song continues:

You talked a line, Johnny,
Nothing was true, Johnny,
You tricked me good, Johnny.
From that first day.
I hate you so, Johnny,
How you stand and grin, Johnny
take that pipe out of your mouth, you dog.